Since the earliest days in the mid 18th century, the gardeners at Kew have worked to maintain collections of plants from around the world. Many exotic plants need more warmth than the British climate can offer, some need high humidity, others can’t stand wet feet in winter. The earliest plant houses, like the Kew Orangery, offered winter protection but weren’t good for year round cultivation as they let in limited light. Nineteenth century developments in the construction of iron framed glasshouses opened up a world of new possibilities.
The Waterlily House, opened in 1852, was built to house specimens of the world’s largest waterlily, Victoria amazonica. It’s the hottest and most humid of Kew’s eleven plant houses and home to a healthy collection of tropical waterlilies, though the original giant waterlily has been rehoused in conditions that suited it better.
The Temperate House is said to be the largest Victorian glasshouse in the world. The 4,880 square meter floor area is divided between five linked structures rising to a height of 19 meters. It’s home to an internationally important collection of temperate zone plants including many rare and endangered species but just now the building itself, newly reopened after a long and costly restoration programme, is the centre of attention.
(Click on any image to view the gallery)
May 31, 2018 at 10:42 am
I love Kew, and your recent posts make me think it is time to make another visit.
LikeLiked by 1 person
May 31, 2018 at 10:49 am
Dipping back into such well-established gardens every few years is a great pleasure. There’s no pressure to see everything and the sense that there’ll always be another chance some day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
May 31, 2018 at 2:50 pm
It is my dream to get to Kew. I have read about it all my life. Thank you for this lovely tour.
LikeLiked by 1 person
May 31, 2018 at 2:55 pm
These two posts were only a glimpse. I’ve had the privilege of visiting several times before and know I’ll be back again some time so I wasn’t trying to record everything. I hope you get to see the gardens for yourself one day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
May 31, 2018 at 2:57 pm
Thanks. Me, too. I have read about the plant hunters who collected the many unusual plants, including the waterlily in honor of Queen Victoria. Now that is a story!
LikeLike
May 31, 2018 at 3:05 pm
Have you read ‘At the Edge of the Orchard’ by Tracy Chevalier? One of the characters is based on a nineteenth century plant collector who worked in the US for Veitch’s nursery in England. It’s a great read and Kew gets a passing mention!
LikeLike
May 31, 2018 at 3:08 pm
No. I wrote it down. Thanks.
LikeLike